dry spell
nounEtymology Originated around 1885–1890, from dry + spell (“a period of time”). Compare cold spell.
1
A drawn-out period where the weather has been dry, for an abnormally long time; shorter and not as severe as a drought.
- Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell / Jimmy Rogers on the Victrola up high1989, Christopher Ward, David Tyson, “Black Velvet”, performed by Alannah Myles:
- The rains, it seemed, were over, and a dry spell was upon them […]1996, M.G. Vassangi, The Book Of Secrets, page 74:
1 more example
- The only place unaffected by the persistent dry spell was the city of Milwaukee […]2003, Denise Gess, William Lutz, Firestorm at Peshtigo, page 42:
2
Figuratively A period or time where there is little activity, productivity, low income etc.
- The first type is of course the dry spell when you can't think of any ideas. The second type is when kids just have a dry spell in writing.1970, Gabriel H. L. Jacobs, When children think, page 31:
3
Figuratively A period of time without sexual intercourse.
- There's no telling when the serial dating bug can strike. You may be just getting out of a serious relationship, marriage, or long dry spell. But one thing's for certain: when it does it can become a really hard habit to break.2007, Elina Furman, Kiss and Run, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 87:
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